Whenever most prospective dental students interview for placement into the dental schools of their choice, they usually cite their desire to “help people” as their motivation for pursuing a career in dentistry. So, why have so many non-dentists entered into the profession? Is it their altruistic desire to “help people,” or is it something a bit more self-serving?

The average person reading this article might initially be unsympathetic to the plight of the dentist, as some in the general population have liken dentists to used-car salesmen. Sorry. No offense to used-car salesmen. Several commentaries about the profession have asserted the position that many people feel that most dentists overcharge, and as a result, they have a mistrust of dentists. Oftentimes, that mistrust usually originates from misinformation, and sometimes, misrepresentation of information from the individuals’ insurance companies and human resources managers. However, that’s another topic entirely.

To completely understand any argument made on behalf of the dentist, it’s important to understand the dentists’ perspective. To begin, the cost of dental education has skyrocketed over the past few decades. According The America Dental Education Association (ADEA), the average debt for graduating dental students, based on a survey of the class of 2016, is $261,149. However, based on the average cost of dental school tuition, I believe that number should be a lot higher. Listed below is a compilation of the tuitions for a few schools in major metropolitan areas. The amounts stated are solely tuition, unless otherwise stated, and does not include additional fees, including instrument fees, states/local fees, books fees or living expenses.

University

State

In-State Tuition Per Year

Out-of-State Tuition Per Year

LECOM School of Dental Medicine

Florida

$49,700

Nova Southeastern University College of Dentistry

Florida

$62,350

University of Maryland School of Dentistry

Maryland

$17,681.50

$32,864.50

University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry

Mississippi

$26,800

Not provided on website

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine

New York

$72,378

New York University College of Dentistry

New York

$72,904

Boston University Henry M Goldman School of Dentistry

Massachusetts

$72,000

University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry

California

$43,278.37 (*tuition and total mandatory fees)

The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio

Texas

$24,150 (tuition only)

$38,446 (tuition and fees)

*Tuition rates are cited from the College/University websites

Keep in mind that these aggregate costs, which, in many cases, are upwards of a quarter of a million dollars, are solely for dental school tuition. These moneys do not include tuition affiliated with other undergraduate or post-baccalaureate degrees or certificate programs that individuals might have sought in preparation for admission into these colleges. Additionally, the tuitions do not include the additional costs associated with specialty programs that could take an additional two to six years, depending on the specialty program. That in itself is egregious! What’s even more egregious is that many graduating dentist are being squeezed from both ends-going in and coming out. That brings me to the argument against corporate dentistry.

Many individuals affiliated with corporate dental franchises have not assumed any of the risks associated with the profession. However, they are gainfully partaking in the monetary rewards. One of the unfortunate sides of corporate dentistry is that some companies do not pay their associates a traditional salary. Many dentists are compensated based on commission or a “draw,” which could essentially be compared to a pay advanced loan. For example, if a company agrees to compensate an individual at a rate of $100/day and that individual only earns $80, the company will pay the individual the $100 and the individual will be in the hole for $20, which would be taken from the next pay day, assuming that the individual’s production is above the stated production goal. The problem with that form of compensation is that, as time progresses, it could become dicey and convoluted, especially when third-party payers are involved. Imagine trying to keep track of a year’s worth of earnings.

Aside from tuition, there are several financial obligations associated with the dental profession. Initial state licensure could cost several thousand dollars and require periodic renewal. Malpractice insurance is also a fundamental part of any dentist’s armamentarium. Additionally, most dentists participate in routine, continuing education courses to maintain their license and advance their knowledge. To be fair, many corporate dental practices do assume the cost of providing malpractice insurance coverage and continuing education costs. However, these companies do have a disproportionate advantage over individuals who have made a sacrificial commitment to the profession. Sole proprietorship, which is one of several reasons why many have chosen a career in dentistry over medicine, is being threatened, if not obliterated, by corporate dentistry. Individuals who are saddled by six-figure debt might not be financially prepared or able to compete in the marketplace.

Speaking of marketplace, many Internet sites have ranked dentistry as one of the highest paying profession with starting salaries of over $100,000. In addition to the private practice arena, the profession of dentistry does offer a variety of areas of practice, including academia, federally qualified health centers and research facilities, just to name a few. However, the prevalence of those additional opportunities does not change the fact that corporate dental companies have dramatically impacted and influenced the private sector of dentistry. Additionally, a six-figure salary scaled against and even larger six-figure debt might be more of a risk than a reward for some. In fact, the larger the salary, the larger the tax implications and the smaller the adjusted gross income, which could make repayment of student loans an overwhelming obstacle to the dentist’s success and independence.

So, where does that leave the fate of the profession? The truth is, corporate dentistry is hear to stay, and it is not the only variable impacting the dental profession, as evidence by the increasing dental school tuition rates. These additional variables, which also include the impending burst of the student loan bubble, are multifactorial and beyond the scope of this article. Nonetheless, corporate dental practices are growing at a rapid pace. However, that growth could be brought to a screeching halt in the near future. Life is a balance of risks and rewards, and if future practitioners determine that the risks are greater than the rewards, there could be a decline in the dental school matriculation rate, and hence, the amount of people entering the profession. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

The divides we face should never be along racial lines. We, regardless of who we are, should always side with truth and justice. In the Bible, Jesus often spoke about showing favor and mercy to the widow, the alien, the fatherless and the poor. Many of us have fallen, or will fall, into one of those categories.

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

1 Corinthians 1:27

I pray that this quote encourages you as much as it has encouraged me today. God is about to do something in the lives of the unassuming—the brokenhearted, the forgotten and the unrecognized. He is about to elevate leaders that the world has criticized, mocked, beaten, captured and imprisoned. He is about to do a new thing.

I know that I am speaking directly to someone’s heart today. The Lord is about to use you in ways that defy imagination. He is about to make your enemies your footstool. Every tear that you have shed has been captured. Psalm 56:8 says, “Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll — are they not in your record?” God has heard your cries. There might seem as if there is no way out. It might appear as if everyone has abandoned you and told you ‘no,” but please know that it is during your darkest hours when God does His finest work. It was during the darkness that God called light into existence. It was after Pharaoh’s heart was hardened that God parted the Red Sea and delivered the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians. It was after Job had lost everything that God restored him two-fold. Please be reminded that God is a God of grandeur, and while his preparation might be done in seclusion, His restorations are never done in private. God’s promotions are for His glorious victory. Therefore, they are always on display. Matthew 23:12 says, “those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted,” (NIV).

Be grateful for all who denied you. God is elevating you in a manner that you will be indebted to none other than He. The blessings of the Lord make a man rich, and it adds no sorrow with it, Proverbs 10:22. Know that God has already blessed you, and He is about to make a public proclamation. In Jesus, name, Amen! The Bible also says that even before God restored Job, Job repented and humbled himself. He praised God even while he was covered in ashes and riddled with sore. Wherever you are, praise God. Praise His glorious name. Know that the end of your story was written even before the beginning, and it’s not over until God says that it’s over. Glory to God.

A few years ago, I created this blog to challenge the way we think–to open our minds. Today the old adage, knowledge is power, is probably truer than ever before. Many of us fear what we do not know.

On Tuesday, I sat in front of my television, as perhaps millions of others, and watched as Charlie Sheen disclosed what was probably his biggest personal obstacle to date: his HIV status. As I watched him, I saw an individual who was the embodiment of the human experience–wonderful, flawed and broken, all at the same time. At times during the interview, he look bewildered, as if he were having an out of body experience–as if it were happening to someone else.

Days before the Matt Lauer interview, I already knew what Charlie Sheen’s disclosure would be. The Internet was already abuzz. The opinions and speculation varied from support to condemnation. As I read through some of the posts, I was reminded of King David. During one of his fallen moments, he declared, “It would be better to fall into the hands of God than to fall into the hands of man.”

God’s grace reminds us that we are ALL wonderful, flawed and broken. In all of our lives, we will experience moments where our actions will take us to dark places from where only God can deliver us. The truth is, only God can judge.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Whether we know it or believe it, we are all called for God’s purpose. He can take our biggest mistakes, failures and shortcomings and use them for His glory. One of the positives that came from Sheen’s disclosure is the open dialogue about HIV and AIDS. There is still so much misinformation and stigma surrounding the disease. As having had the experience as an HIV educator and working with HIV researcher, I understand the value of these teachable moments.

Last year, I wrote and produced, “What is Your Status: An HIV Awareness Story ” to highlight some of the issues that still surround HIV and AIDS.
Please check out the video below:

I believe it was English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton who penned (pun intended) the phrase, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” in his play Richelieu. Truer words have never been spoken. Unto the sword is born death, but the pen breeds both death and life.

A few years ago, I created this blog, That Next Level Thinking, in hopes that it would be a conduit for progressive thinking. I wanted to challenge myself and my readers to push pass the mundane and to expand our mind to not just think outside the box, but to obliterate boundaries entirely. In order to be revolutionary, we have to be willing to be vulnerable and to realize that it is our unique perspectives and quirks that will help us to impact the world in a way that no one else can or has. As we storm towards greatness, we should never forget that it has always been the people who have gone against the grain of contemporary thinking who have steered the course of progress.